Where Was Elf Filmed?

The Short Answer

Elf was filmed mainly on location in New York City, including the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, and Central Park. Interiors, North Pole sequences, and many other sets were shot in Vancouver, British Columbia, including at Riverview Hospital in Coquitlam and the Pacific Coliseum, which served as the soundstage for Santa's Village.

Elf, released in 2003, split its production between two countries. Director Jon Favreau's team shot exteriors on the actual streets of New York City, giving the film its lived-in holiday feel, while a large share of interiors and the entire North Pole were constructed across the border in British Columbia.

The budget shaped the approach. Production used guerrilla-style filming in NYC, without closing streets or hiring many extras, so much of what appears on screen is the real city going about its business. Fans can still visit most of the Manhattan spots today, and several guided movie location tours cover them.

Every Location At A Glance

Location	Where	What was filmed	Access
Empire State Building	New York, United States	Buddy arrives and finds his father's office at Greenway Press; lobby and exterior shots	Free to see
Textile Building	New York, United States	Exterior of Gimbels Department Store	Outside only
55 Central Park West	New York, United States	Hobbs family apartment exterior	Outside only
Riverview Hospital	Coquitlam, Canada	North Pole scenes, many interiors including orphanage, police station, apartment interiors, Gimbels interiors	Private property
Lincoln Tunnel	New York, United States	Buddy arrives in NYC exiting tunnel	Free to see
Grand Central Terminal area	New York, United States	Shoeshine scene outside on 42nd Street	Free to see
York Prep School	New York, United States	Michael's school; Buddy waits outside	Outside only
20 E Hastings Street	Vancouver, Canada	World's Best Cup of Coffee cafe scene	Outside only
Rockefeller Center	New York, United States	Christmas tree scene	Free to see
Central Park - Pinebank Arch / Bethesda Terrace area	New York, United States	Snowball fight and final scenes with sleigh	Free to see

Filming Locations Map

10 locations. The map loads when it scrolls into view.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Location By Location

Buddy arrives in New York and finds his father's office at Greenway Press, with lobby and exterior shots filmed here. The building remains one of the most visited attractions in the city, open to the public with its observatory and tours. Expect crowds, especially in the holiday season when the film's themes draw extra fans to the lobby Buddy once sprinted through.

This building stood in for the exterior of Gimbels Department Store, the fictional store where Buddy works in the toy department. It is an office building today, so viewing is exterior only from the street. The interiors were not filmed here; Gimbels interiors were shot partly at Hudson's Bay department store in Vancouver and on sets at Riverview Hospital.

The Hobbs family apartment exterior was filmed at this residential building, located right by Central Park. It is a private residence, so the visit is a street-level one: admire the facade, then step into the park next door. Its position makes it an easy stop on a walking or pedicab tour of Elf sites around the park.

This former hospital in Coquitlam, British Columbia, carried a remarkable share of the production. The North Pole scenes and many interiors, including the orphanage, the police station, apartment interiors, and Gimbels interiors, were filmed here. The site is now redeveloped or restricted, so there is no public access. Travelers hoping to see Santa's Village in person will be disappointed; that set no longer exists.

Buddy's arrival in New York City was captured as he exited the tunnel, a memorable moment marking his transition from the North Pole to Manhattan. It remains an active traffic tunnel with no pedestrian access inside, so visitors can only see it from the outside or pass through it by car or bus, just as Buddy did on screen.

The shoeshine scene took place outside on 42nd Street near the terminal. This is one of the easiest locations for travelers to experience, since the terminal and its surrounding public areas are fully accessible and free to explore. The surrounding streets still carry the busy midtown energy that gives the scene its comic edge.

Michael's school appears in the film, with Buddy waiting outside in one scene. It is a private school, so access is exterior only and visitors should respect the privacy of students and staff. A quick look from the street is enough; the building sits near other Upper West Side locations, including the Hobbs apartment, making it convenient to pair with them.

The famous 'World's Best Cup of Coffee' cafe scene was filmed here in Vancouver, not New York City, one of the film's convincing tricks. Unfortunately for pilgrims, the building has been demolished and the area has changed significantly. There is nothing left to see of the cafe today, though the corner still holds a place in Elf history.

The Christmas tree scene was filmed at this popular public plaza, home to the famous rink and the giant tree each December. It is fully open to the public and free to enter, though holiday crowds are intense. Visiting during the tree season offers the closest match to the film's setting, with the plaza glowing much as it did during shooting.

The snowball fight and the final scenes featuring the sleigh were filmed in this area of Central Park. The park is public and open access, so fans can walk to both spots freely. These locations are frequent highlights of movie site tours, and their proximity to the Hobbs apartment building makes them natural stops on any Elf itinerary.

Where It Is Set Versus Where It Was Filmed

The story is set in New York City and the North Pole, and the filming largely honors that setting. Exteriors were genuinely shot in New York City, but the North Pole never existed as a real place; it was built at Riverview Hospital in Coquitlam and on a soundstage at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, because no suitable soundstage was large enough for Santa's Village. Even some apparent New York interiors, such as Gimbels, were filmed in Vancouver.

Tours That Visit These Locations

For travelers who want more than a self-guided walk, several bookable tours visit Elf filming locations in Central Park, often combined with Home Alone 2 sites from the same era of New York filmmaking. Options range from pedicab rides to private car tours, depending on budget and group size.

Central Park Movie Walk

Elf and Home Alone 2 Movie Locations Tour in Central Park

A five-star rated Central Park tour with 57 reviews, pairing Elf sites with Home Alone 2 stops for holiday-movie fans.

5.0 out of 5 · 57 reviewsNew York City

PriceLive on listingCheck availability

Small-Group Park Tour

Home Alone 2 and Elf Locations Tour in Central Park

A lower-priced group option with a 4.7 rating across 27 reviews, hitting both films' Central Park locations.

4.7 out of 5 · 27 reviewsNew York City

PriceLive on listingCheck availability

Pedicab Central Park Tour

NYC: Elf & Home Alone 2 Locations Central Park Pedicab Tour

A relaxed pedicab ride through Central Park covering Elf and Home Alone 2 locations, rated 4.9 from 21 reviews at $200.

4.9 out of 5 · 21 reviews

From$200Check availability

Private Car Tour, 2 Hours

New York City: Elf Movie Sites 2-Hour Private Guided Tour by Car

A two-hour private guided tour by car priced at 319.5, covering Elf movie sites beyond the park at your own pace.

From$320Check availability

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Elf actually filmed in New York?

Yes, most exterior and street scenes were filmed on real New York City locations, including the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, and Central Park. Production used guerrilla-style filming without closing streets due to budget constraints.

Where was the North Pole filmed?

The North Pole scenes were filmed at Riverview Hospital in Coquitlam, British Columbia, a former mental institution. Santa's Village was built as a soundstage at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver because no existing soundstage was large enough.

Was Gimbels a real store?

Gimbels was fictional for the film. The exterior was the Textile Building in New York, while interiors were filmed partly at Hudson's Bay department store in Vancouver and on sets at Riverview Hospital.

Can I visit the World's Best Cup of Coffee cafe?

No. The scene was filmed at 20 E Hastings Street in Vancouver, not New York, and the building has since been demolished. The area has changed significantly and nothing of the cafe remains.

Which Elf locations can I see in Central Park?

The snowball fight and final sleigh scenes were filmed around Pinebank Arch and Bethesda Terrace, and the Hobbs family apartment exterior is at 55 Central Park West beside the park. All are freely accessible to the public.

Are there guided tours of Elf filming locations?

Yes. Several bookable tours visit Elf sites in Central Park, often combined with Home Alone 2 locations. Formats include pedicab tours, group walking tours, and a private two-hour car tour covering sites beyond the park.

Elf rewards location hunting more than most films because so much of it was shot on real, freely accessible New York ground. Central Park, Rockefeller Center, and the Empire State Building can fill a satisfying day on foot or by pedicab, while the Vancouver side of the production survives only in memory and in the film itself. A guided tour makes the park stops easy, but independent travelers with a map and decent walking shoes will manage just fine.

Sources

The Short Answer

Every Location At A Glance

Filming Locations Map

Location By Location

Empire State Building

Textile Building

55 Central Park West

Riverview Hospital

Lincoln Tunnel

Grand Central Terminal area

York Prep School

20 E Hastings Street

Rockefeller Center

Central Park - Pinebank Arch / Bethesda Terrace area